Periodontal Abscess: A Review

INTRODUCTION Periodontal abscess is the third most frequent dental emergency, representing 7–14% of all the dental emergencies. Numerous aetiologies have been implicated: exacerbations of the existing disease, post-therapy abscesses, the impaction of foreign objects, the factors altering root morphology, etc. The diagnosis is done by the analysis of the signs and symptoms and by the usage of supplemental diagnostic aids. Evidences suggest that the micro-flora which are related to periodontal abscesses are not specific and that they are usually dominated by gram-negative strict anaerobe, rods, etc. The treatment of the periodontal abscess has been a challenge for many years. In the past, the periodontal abscess in periodontal diseased teeth was the main reason for tooth extraction. Today, three therapeutic approaches are being discussed in dentistry, that include, drainage and debridement, systemic antibiotics and periodontal surgical procedures which are applied in the chronic phase of the disease. The localization of the acute periodontal abscess and the possibility of obtaining drainage are essential considerations for suc-